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Gary lee Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Can the word "OFF" + "ING" ?

Hi Friend,

Can the word "OFF" + "ING" ?


They don't even bother of offing the fan <=is this correct?


They don't even bother of cleaning the car <=similiar example


Thank you
  

Top answer

Only verbs can add "ing". "off" is not a verb, so you can't make a verb form like "offing". "don't bother" is not followed by "of", by the way.

— CalifJim

  • Only verbs can add "ing".
  • "off" is not a verb, so you can't make a verb form like "offing".
  • "don't bother" is not followed by "of", by the way.
  • What you need is the expression "turn off": They don't even bother turning off the fan.
  • They don't even bother cleaning the car.
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23 Answers
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Only verbs can add "ing".
"off" is not a verb, so you can't make a verb form like "offing".

"don't bother" is not followed by "of", by the way.

What you need is the expression "turn off":

They don't even bother turning off the fan.
They don't even bother cleaning the car.

But I like this way better:

They don't even bother to turn off the
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is the word "action" a verb?

how can I apply "ing" to the word "action"

Is the below sentence correct?

eg: stop speaking and start actioning

Thanks,

Gary
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No, "action" is a noun. The verb is "act":

Stop speaking and start acting.
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Overall yes what has been said in this thread is true but, and I'm sorry to sound awkward, there are a couple of exceptions.

Offing is slang for assassinating someone.

Action is increasingly used as a verb in business jargon (yuk and I hate it). Who will action this report? The IT department are actioning it? Emma will be actioning the third item on the agenda. It means to take
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Overall yes what has been said in this thread is true but, and I'm sorry to sound awkward, there are a couple of exceptions.

Offing is slang for assassinating someone.

Action is increasingly used as a verb in business jargon (yuk and I hate it). Who will action this report? The IT department are actioning it? Emma will be actioning the third item on the agenda. It means to take
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Nona The BritAction is increasingly used as a verb in business jargon (yuk and I hate it).

Convention apparently now allows for the use of 'grow' as we have always used it as in 'grow daffodils in the front yard'. On radio ads recently: 'if you want to grow your business, meaning to increase it, 'make it grow'.

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Yet, and here I come back to the original question, I'm sure I've encountered "off" used as a verb, meaning "to kill" - in bad thrillers, maybe?
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If youse guys on 'dis list don't quit behavin' bad, youse is gonna get offed / whacked / taken out / hit / knocked off. I kid you not!
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I quite like 'off' for 'switch off'. Off that fan. On those lights. Down that axe. Out that cat. In those milk bottles. Across the mustard, please. Over the tv, won't you?

Could up and away.

MrP
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